And Reefer, who make their bunting in England, from old sails. Reefer make recycled and new material sailcloth and canvas bags, duffle bags, washbags, iPad and IPhone cases, bunting, pet products, keyrings, passport covers, luggage tags, deckchairs, windbreaks and other great stuff in England. Reefer repurpose retired and discarded material and say on their website that where possible they “make use of UK based suppliers and manufacturers”. Products are made in Devon England. Products available seem to very over time – http://www.reefersails.com

Southsea Deckchairs make deckchairs, parasols, sauna chairs, folding tables, windbreaks, folding stools, replacement deckchair fabric and so on. They also sell deckchair fabric by the metre, hire deckchairs and make branded deckchairs. They have been making deckchairs for the last 20 years in Portsmouth, England. Their range of resin furniture is imported. When I asked them about their UK manufacture in November 2012 they replied as follows: “Assembly work, finishing, sewing, fittings, QC, is all done in the UK. Some of the work is outsourced”. I’m pleased they are honest about their sourcing. Southsea deckchairs are used on the majority of beaches and promenades up and down the UK. They also export. As some work is outsourced and country of origin is not given on their website against individual products, please check where you deckchair or whatever you are interested in from them is made before buying – http://www.deckchairs.co.uk

Flagmakers is Britain’s oldest flag maker and a trading name of George Tutill, Able Flags and Turtle and Pearce, making flags, flagpoles, banners and bunting. Also, flag hire. Part of the Specialised Canvas Group. ‘Flagmakers’ still manufacture in the UK and have an ethical sourcing policy. I asked the company about the origin of their products and got this response: “We sew our flags here in Chesham and print at our parent company in Chesterfield. We also have an overflow printing partner in Germany. We purchase most of our material within the UK however some specialist silks are not stocked here and we have to go abroad for them. Our wood products for table flags, bases etc are sourced from a local carpenter here in Chesham.” You can see some examples of their flags here. Also part of the Specialised Canvas Group are: JMS Flagpoles who make flagpoles in the UK, make cafe windbreaks in the UK (available at www.cafe-windbreaks.co.uk) and supply flags; Banner Box who make banners in the UK; Proflight Bags who make custom bags, emergency bags, industrial bags and covers in the UK; Specialised Canvas Services who manufacture canvas sheets and covers in the UK; Porters flags who make flags in the UK; www.flag-pole.co.ukwho make flagpoles and graphic display systems in the UK. Check where the Specialised Canvas group product you want will be made – as they state above some production is outsourced for example to Germany. http://www.flags-flagpoles-banners.co.uk– a site featuring Specialised Canvas group products generally.

Aero Feather Windchaser flags for The National Trust at Clumber Park, 4 October 2011 (Banner Box)

Flying Colours are makers of sewn and printed national flags, company flags, and bespoke flags and banners, bunting and beach flags. Flying Colours have a Royal Warrant for the supply of flags and related products to Her Majesty The Queen and His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales. They supply to individuals, companies, organisations, local authorities and the like. One of their Union flags is flown from Windsor Castle. Their flags are manufactured in house, in the UK. Check before buying whether their bunting and suchlike is made in the UK – http://www.flyingcolours.org

The Flag Loft make all their flags in the UK. The Flag Loft supply sewn flags to the general public, industry, hotels, embassy’s and commercial customers around the world. Check before buying whether their bunting and suchlike is made in the UK – http://www.theflagloft.co.uk

Newton Newton Flagshave been making flags and banners since 1975. Newton Newton are actual manufacturers and make their flags, standards and banners in Lincolnshire. They are happy to welcome visitors during normal office hours by appointment.

Red Dragon Flagmakers are manufacturers of traditional sewn and quality printed flags, coffin drapes, banners and bunting and other textile goods, own brand and made for others. They also sell DanoMast flagpoles which are made Denmark and not in the UK. Red Dragon Flagmakers are a social enterprise based in Swansea and Somerset and they rehabilitate through skills training and employment as well as making and selling flags, banners and bunting. All their products, except their flagpoles, appear to be British made. They say on their website “All our products are 100% made in the UK…” They also say “We are a British manufacturer only making our products in the UK. British products are among the best in the World and worth every penny as investment pieces for the present …. and all our futures.” They also do pop-up products like Glory Pants women’s pants, Bapu slippers and Noonoo playthings for little children, but no country of origin information information is given about these products – https://www.facebook.com/reddragonflagmakers/ – https://www.reddragonflagmakers.co.uk

MrFlag of Swansea describe themselves on their webpage as “WALES’ OLDEST & BEST KNOWN FLAG BRAND. THE UK’S FIRST ONLINE FLAG RETAILER.” On their twitter tagline they say “Beautiful flags lovingly made in Great Britain by Great Britons”. They sell a wide range of printed or traditionally sewn flags, current worldwide flags, historic flags, ensigns and Jacks, signal flags, coffin drapes, bunting, beach flags, hand waving flags, windsocks, car flags, desktop flags, etc and flagpoles. Standard sizes or bespoke. Their website tells us very little about the company. Their Facebook tells us “MrFlag® is a privately owned trademark and brand, currently operated under licence by 1415 Limited” and “Mrflag’, ‘MrFlags’, and ‘MrFlag… for people with wind’ and ‘#forpeoplewithwind’ are registered trademarks of Charles Ashburne” – but that means very little to me. Most flags appear to be made in Britain, but please check before buying as possibly some of the cheaper flags are foreign made. MrFlag is a retailer – they don’t make anything so cannot be classed as a flag maker. They have their products made in Manchester and also import from SE Asia – http://www.mrflag.com

If you are buying flags and bunting, please source from a British manufacturer. This is especially significant if you are buying Union flags, St. George flags, Scottish flags, Welsh flags, and other national flags or anything with the Union Flag or national design on it. Buy British made flags and bunting and fly the flag with pride.

For garden furniture and deck chairs that are made in Britain please click here. For British made tents, marquees and gazebos, please click here.

Field Candy (FieldCandy) sunshades, for use on the beach or in the back garden to protect you from the sun (and the rain! to some extent), are made in the UK; as are their tents, their Snoos travel pillows, their roll mats (sleeping mats) and their little flags (which match the tents). Some other Field Candy products are foreign made. For more detail on Field Candy products, please see my tents article here – http://www.fieldcandy.com

Deans Blinds and Awnings manufacture in the UK – Patio awnings, sun awnings, garden awnings and canopies, sun awnings for both the commercial and domestic markets. They also sell some foreign made products such as their giant umbrellas – http://www.deansblinds.co.uk

Deans awnings at Browns-Oxford 24.7.13

Walters in the Turl, February 2015 – Walters, the famous exclusive University outfitters in Oxford, have given their frontage a fresh look, whilst retaining the traditional patina of the building, by refurbishing their existing Victorian commercial awnings with new, bold red and white block stripe canvas type covers. The traditional Victorian awning has been manufactured in the London factory of Deans Blinds & Awnings UK Ltd and fitted by them.